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The Irish Smugglers

Song-Sheet
12 January 1808 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Song sheet, with hand-coloured etching as headpiece. Caricature of two Irishmen on a beach, one blown into the air by an exploding barrel of gunpowder.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Irish Smugglers (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Hand-coloured etching and letterpress.
Brief description
'The Irish Smugglers'. Head-piece etching by Isaac Cruikshank. Published by Laurie & Whittle, London, 12 January 1808.
Physical description
Song sheet, with hand-coloured etching as headpiece. Caricature of two Irishmen on a beach, one blown into the air by an exploding barrel of gunpowder.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.875in
  • Width: 10in
Marks and inscriptions
THE IRISH SMUGGLERS (Extracted from No. XII of the MONTHLY MIRROR - New Series.) From Brighton two Paddies walk'd under the cliff, For pebbles and shells to explore, When lo! a small barrel was dropp'd from a skiff, Which floated at length to the shore. Says Dermot to Pat, we the owner will bilk— To-night we'll be merry and frisky, I know it as well as my own mother's milk, Dear joy! 'tis a barrel of whisky. Says Pat, I'll soon broach it, O fortunate lot! (Now Pat, you must know, was a joker) I'll go to Tom Murphy, who lives in the cot, And borrow his kitchen hot poker. 'Twas said, and 'twas done—the barrel was bor'd, (No Bacchanals ever felt prouder) When Paddy found out a small error on board— The whisky, alas! was gunpowder! With sudden explosion, he flew o'er the ocean, And high in air sported a leg; Yet instinct prevails, when philosophy fails, So he kept a tight hold of the keg. But Dermot bawl'd out, with a terrible shout, I'm not to be chous'd Master Wiseman; If you do not come down, I'll run into the town, And by Jasus, I'll tell the exciseman.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1943, London: HMSO, 1956.
Collection
Accession number
E.553-1943

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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